Apparatus for supporting roller-skaters in rinks.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

A C. SPOONER. APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING RoLLRR SKATERS IN RINKS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 22, 1907. v

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No. 889,268. P'ATENTED JUNE 2, 190a;

.0. A. SPOONER. I APPARATUS son surromme ROLLER SKATERS IN ums.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1907.

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CHARLES A. SPOONER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING ROLLER-SKATERS IN RINKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed August 22, 1907. Serial No. 389,660.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. SPOONER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting Roller-Skaters in Rinks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to an apparatus for supporting roller skatersin rinks; and in such connection it relates more particularly to theconstruction and arrangement of the supporting means for skaters inrinks.

The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide an apparatusto permit persons to learn with ease, without any danger to body or limbthe art of roller-skating; second, to provide for this purpose aframework and a shaft carrying the same, which supports the skaters andis set in rotation by the same; third to provide means suspended fromthe frame-work and arranged so as to normally hold said means above theheads of persons and to permit of an easy reaching and lowering of saidmeans for being used by skaters; fourth, to provide thesuspendedsupporting means with devices to permit of ready engagement by the handsof the skaters or of direct connection of the supporting means by strapswith the body of the skater; fifth, to provide means to hold thesuspended supporting means separated from each other to preventcollision of skaters with each other; and siXth, to provide the shaft ofsaid frame-work with driving means to actuate a musical instrument bythe rotation of said shaft.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a view,illustrating partly in side elevation and partly in section, a frameworksupported by a shaft, a series of supporting means for persons suspendedfrom each of the arms of said frame-work and of means connected withsaid shaft for actuating a musical instrument. Fig. 2 is a detail view,enlarged, illustrating partly in section and partly in elevation, aspring controlled drum for automatically elevating the suspendedsupporting means; and Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the apparatus,partly in section.

Referring to the drawings 4, is a shaft rotatably supported at its lowerend by a bearing 5, secured to the floor 7, of a building (not shown),and at its upper end is engaged and held in a vertical position, by abearing 6, suitably connected with the ceiling or other portion of thebuilding. To the shaft 4, is secured a bracket 8, adapted to support inconjunction with rods 10, arms 9, in a horizontal position. The rods 10,are preferably, connected with a collar 11, secured to the shaft 4, andto sleeves 12, secured to the outer free ends of the arms 9. Rods 14,connecting the arms 9, with each other at their free ends, serve inconnection with the rods 10, to form a unitary structure 13, which isheld supported in a certain position from the floor 7, by the shaft 4.To each of the arms 9, are secured and suspended therefrom, a series ofsupporting means 15, each, consisting of a housing or holder 16, inwhich is rotatably arranged on a shaft 18 thereof, a

drum 19, connected with the shaft 18, by a spiral spring 20, as shown inFig. 2, The drum 19, serves to support a chain 21, which is normallyheld wound upon the same, by the spiral spring 20, and is thus for acertain length concealed in the housing 16, for the purpose of normallyholding rings 22, belts 23 or bars 24, in such a position above thefloor 7, as to clear the heads of skaters orother persons passingbeneath the same. The height in which the rings 22, and belts 23, orbars 24, are held is such as to be in easy reach of the hands ofpersons, by taking hold of the rings 22 or bars 24, to lower the same byunwinding the chain 21, against the tension of the spring 20, from thedrum 19, forv a proper length. Persons desirous of learning the art ofroller skating, by means of the supporting means 15, will be preventedfrom falling on the floor 7, of the skating rink, when losing balance onthe roller skates and thus will be protected against injury. Moreover,the suspended supporting means 15, being steady will more or lesssupport the skater during this time of acquiring the necessaryproficiency to skate, without the aid of the apparatus. In order topermit of the free use of the hands during skating, the person can beconnected with the chain 21, by means of the belt 23, which is appliedto the body and connected with the chain 21, preferably by means ofstraps 24. To prevent collision of skaters with each other, thesupporting means 15, suspended from the same rod 9, of the framework areheld a certain distance apart, preferably by means of rods 26. Theskaters in their forward movement by the supporting means 15, will setthe frame-work 13, and by the same the shaft 4, into rotation, which bymeans of a bevel-gear 28, secured to the shaft 4, and a bevel-gear 29,secured to a musical instrument 30, is utilized to actuate theinstrument, as a piano, organ or the like.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In anapparatus of the character described, a framework, a shaft supportingthe frame-work, a series of supporting means suspended from theframe-work, each of said suspended means having a drum, a chain carriedby the drum, and means for rotating said drum in one direction toautomatically wind said chain on said drum.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame-work, a shaftsupporting said frame-work, a series of supporting means suspended fromsaid frame-work, each of said suspended means having a housing, a

drum located in said housing, a chain carried a spring carried by saiddrum and adapted to automatically wind said chain thereon to hold saidhandholds in a certain position with respect to said frame-work.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame-work, a shaftsupporting said frame-Work, a series of supporting means suspended fromsaid frame-work, each of said suspended means having a housing, a drumlocated in said housing, a chain carried by said drum and extendingbeyond said housing, handholds carried by said chain, and a springcarried by said drum and adapted to automatically wind said chainthereon to hold said handholds in a certain position with respect tosaid frame-work, and means for holding adjoining suspended means apartby engaging the chains thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses. 4

CHARLES A. SPOONER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS M. SMITH, WILHELM VoGT.

